Strange, isn’t it, how a simple and innocent question, can lead heaven knows where.
Thus it was on 17 April 2005, when Sandra Poole, looking for details of the family of Arraminta Brown, her great grandmother,
innocently and simply asked me:
“Do you know anything about the Savage Family -
they were referred to as the Master and Mistress in the letters?”Sandra had been prompted by contact with Tracey Foulds, who was researching the family of her great grandfather,
Jacob Smith Brown.
Details of what we found out about the Browns, who they were, where they lived,
can be read here.
Sandra possesses some fascinating letters, all sent to Arraminta. Some from her mother, Susannah Brown (nee Smith),
some from sister Martha – you can read those here - and the rest from Emma Savage.
She said of them:
“[they are] from a Mrs Savage, sometimes the address on them is Brick Kiln Farm,
and sometimes Hill House, Glemsford."
In themselves, Emma’s letters represent a priceless view of life in Suffolk,
London and beyond in the early 20th century.
They are full of asides and references as well as tantalising personal detail.
But that is to jump ahead. When Tracey Sandra and I first met (electronically),
between us we knew absolutely nothing about the Savages.
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